Having just returned from the AIFFA 2023 Film Festival in Malaysia last weekend, Hong Anh continued to rush to assemble the stage, preparing the final stages to launch the experimental play in time. I tell my story on the evening of 11.8. With this play, Hong Anh not only participated in acting but also shouldered the responsibility of a producer.
Knowing the challenges and revenue risks that an experimental play can bring, Hong Anh is still determined to go with the project to satisfy her passion with her associates, to send a signal. on the contemporary spirit and innovative endeavors of theatrical art. “The play currently only has 3 performances, the audience is not too large, because it is an experiment, there will be many strange things for the audience, so we also want to first probe people’s reactions. This time, if Breaking even means that the team is very happy, not to mention having a word,” said Hong Anh.
I tell my story is the relationship between Hong Anh and director Doan Khoa. During a chance meeting at a funeral, Hong Anh and Doan Khoa had the opportunity to sit down to reflect and talk about their human fate, the pandemic, their children’s traumas, depression and inexplicable trauma. people in modern society. Cherishing the talent of his big brother who had been “hidden” for a long time, Hong Anh “invited” Doan Khoa to return to acting. Since then, they “shake hands” together to make a play about the human condition and stories that they cannot tell each other.
With the same desire to bring something new to themselves and the general atmosphere of Saigon drama, Hong Anh and Doan Khoa decided to stage and tell their story in an experimental, unstructured style. three acts, no specific plot, minimalist stage, some characters don’t even have names. But they all believe in the power of stories, stories and empathy between people.
When asked why theater activities today are much less exciting than other art forms, Hong Anh commented: “In other arts such as music and cinema, I think technically , facilities, Vietnam does not have too much difference compared to other countries in the world, but with the stage, the difference is too big, we are lacking a lot of creativity, in terms of performance, staging. “.
“So many years have passed, the stage is safe, and the audience is used to that safety, so they lose their curiosity, wonder and excitement. Not to mention other genres are constantly having innovation, there are countless choices of art and entertainment forms from live to online. There is no shortage of new human resources in the industry, but most of them stay in the safe frame. do the stage because they still have to balance the business, too new is also afraid that no one will accept.”
Besides, Hong Anh said that in order to have a positive change for the general atmosphere of the theater industry, efforts must come from both artists and audiences. The actress said: “Looking at today’s theatrical ticket prices, sometimes I feel sad and feel so irrational. Going abroad, when I go to the theater, Broadway or even small experimental stages, the ticket price is affordable. Now it costs more than 5, even 10 times the price of a movie ticket.In Vietnam, a concert ticket is about 1 million people are willing to buy, but if it is the ticket price of a play, they immediately hesitate. maybe because they are uncertain about the value they will get in return, it is not strong enough, it is not uniform.The desire for innovation, the source of creativity must come from both the artist and the audience, they must Artists need to persevere because the results of innovation are not immediately visible. New experiences are always good, but it must also touch life. Audiences must also come to artistic experiences with their hearts. You may like it, you may not, you may not understand it immediately, but it is also stimulated to come back and learn more. But if you hear something new and you immediately reject it, it will be difficult. Only then can we remove the monotony and be safe together. I hope that through this play, we can create a new inspiration for the audience and for our colleagues. So I’m very happy.”
Beside Hong Anh, Doan Khoa, I talk to myselfThere was also the presence of People’s Artist Kim Xuan, Quang Thao and Huynh Ly. The play will be performed at Experimental Theater – Ho Chi Minh City Dance School on two nights, 11 and 12 August 2023.